Interviews in progress! Article coming soon...

Here is a list of the questions being asked of parents. This questionnaire is designed to give new families an idea of what to expect when seeking out a teacher, the time that process may take, and the amount of involvement parents should expect when working with their children. This questionnaire is being passed out to parents from multiple studios. Teachers are also being asked to fill out a separate questionnaire, which will be posted at a later date.

1.) How long has your child been taking lessons?

2.) How old was your child when he or she began taking lessons?

3.) How long has your child been with his or her teacher?

4a.) When you began looking for teachers, did you have a peference for a Suzuki or Traditional teacher?
4b.) If so, why?
4c.) If not, how much did you know about the Suzuki Method?

5.) If you have been with multiple teachers, would you please explain the reasons and/or circumstances for switching teachers?

6.) How long did it take you to find your current teacher?

7a.) Did you interview other teachers before committing to your current teacher?
7b.) If so, how many teachers did you interview?

8a.) Did you observe lessons with your teacher before becoming a part of the studio?
8b.) If so, how many lessons did you observe?

9a.) Did you observe lessons in other studios?
9b.) If so, how many lessons did you observe?

10.) Why did you choose to go with your current teacher?


Parents of students 11 or younger:

11.) How often do you sit in on lessons?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never

12.) How often does your child practice?
          a.) every day
          b.) 5-6 days a week
          c.) 3-4 days a week
          d.) 2 days a week
          e.) less than 2 days a week

13.) For how much time does your child practice?
          a.) 45 minutes to an hour
          b.) 30-45 minutes
          c.) 15-30 minutes
          e.) less than 15 minutes

14.) How often do you practice with your child?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never


Parents of children 12 or older:

11a.) How often did you sit in on lessons in the first several years of instruction?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never

11b.) How often do you sit in on lessons now?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never

12a.) How often did your child practice in the first several years of lessons?
          a.) every day
          b.) 5-6 days a week
          c.) 3-4 days a week
          d.) 2 days a week
          e.) less than 2 days a week

12b.) How often does your child practice now?
          a.) every day
          b.) 5-6 days a week
          c.) 3-4 days a week
          d.) 2 days a week
          e.) less than 2 days a week

13a.) For how much time did your child practice in the first several years of lessons?
          a.) 45 minutes to an hour
          b.) 30-45 minutes
          c.) 15-30 minutes
          d.) less than 15 minutes

13b.) For how much time does your child practice now?
          a.) 45 minutes to an hour
          b.) 30-45 minutes
          c.) 15-30 minutes
          d.) less than 15 minutes

14a.) How often did you practice with your child in the first several years of lessons?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never

14b.) How often do you practice with your child now?
          a.) always
          b.) most of the time
          c.) occasionally
          d.) never


Parents of all children:

15.) How would you rate your time commitment to your child's violin or viola studies in the first several years of instruction?
          a.) very high
          b.) high
          c.) moderate
          d.) low

16a.) How would you rate your musical background?
          a.) I am a professional musician.
          b.) highly skilled amateur (still active)
          c.) skilled, but not currently playing
          d.) studied some as a child
          e.) no musical background to speak of

16b.) If you have studied an instrument in the past, please specify your instrument(s):

17a.) Has your child experienced frustrations at any time during this process?
17b.) If so, would you please elaborate:

18a.) Have you experienced frustrations at any time during this process?
18b.) If so, would you please elaborate:

19.) If you answered yes to either question 17 or question 18 above, would you please describe how you dealt with those frustrations and with what degree of success?

20.) Are you happy with the progress your child has made over the course of his or her instruction?

21a.) If you could do it over again, would you do anything differently?
21b.) If so, what would you do?

22.) What advice would you offer new students and families?